The rodeo announcer perhaps said it best from his press box perch above Hot Springs Rodeo Grounds on Sunday as another young cowboy fell from his mount and landed in dirt, surrounded by crazy hooves.

“These young cowboys are tougher than $2 jerky and frozen taffy,” the announcer proclaimed as the young bronc rider limped away from the swirling, kicking horse that just launched him out of the saddle. “The future of our sport is in good hands folks.”

The rodeo was part of the Hot Springs Homesteader Days celebration, which included two main sessions of non-stop rodeo action, much to the delight of near capacity crowds that cheered the cowboys and cowgirls on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Despite muggy conditions fueled by a sunny break in the string of rainy downpours in the region for the past week and a half, seats around the Hot Springs arena were a hot commodity both days.

Cowboys and a growing number of cowgirls put their riding and roping skills on the line during the two-day run, competing in more than a dozen different categories for prize money and belt buckles provided by a host of local sponsors, as well as ticket and concession sales.

The competition also featured several “pee-wee” events for kids as young as six, many of whom dazzled the roaring crowds with their toughness riding the junior stock of steers and ponies.

Especially entertaining and encouraging to local rodeo fans was the number of cowboys and cowgirls, who participated in many of the events, including the McAllister brothers, Jack and Nick, along with a cousin, Trapper McAllister, who hail from Hot Springs and the surrounding area and showed local ropers and riders have good skills too.

A fan favorite was, as it often is, the rodeo clown, in this case Eddy Fox, a resident of Kalispell and former U.S. Marine.

Fox kept the crowd entertained between competitions with his witty banter and rubber ball tossing interactions.

“Gotta love the good people of Hot Springs,” Fox said. “They come out and support these athletes and show them they appreciate their skills.”

Aurora Gonzalez, who, along with her husband and several children, stopped at the rodeo after seeing a roadside sign. They decided, as did several other out-of-towners, to see what rodeo was all about.

“This is the first rodeo I’ve ever seen, and that’s the same for the kids,” she said. “We are from California and are on our way east to see family and decided on the spur of the moment to stop and see what a rodeo is all about. It is one of the coolest events I’ve ever seen and the kids seem absolutely wide-eyed in amazement. They will have a good story to tell the kids back home.”

The arena announcer, along with the crew of cowboy support personnel kept the show moving and pulled several riders out of the way of the bucking livestock after a ride. And while there were some pauses in the action for what at first glance appeared to be serious injuries, all of the cowboys and cowgirls got up and limped or ran off on their own power, an indication of their dedication and toughness.

Fans and newcomers alike also seemed impressed by the patriotism on display in the arena, as is custom with rodeo events everywhere.

“I like the fact the flag is honored and the show is good, clean fun,” said Jerry Conners of Missoula. “I’ve been to a lot of rodeos, and the patriotism is one of my favorite parts. We need more of that in this country.”